J Wray & Nephew reorganises, redundancies loom

J. Wray & Nephew Limited, in a media release yesterday, said that it was "compelled to take steps to improve the efficiency of its agricultural operations given the low international sugar price coupled with the negative effect of a prolonged drought".

"As a result, J. Wray & Nephew Limited will be reducing the acreage being farmed at the New Yarmouth Estate located in Clarendon, starting May 2016. The company is exploring the possibility of outsourcing or subleasing the unutilised lands to mitigate the impact of the restructuring.

The New Yarmouth distillery operations will continue to operate unaffected. The company will also continue to purchase sugar cane from registered third-party farmers and to increase this source of supply where possible."

The release confirmed that the restructuring would result in "some redundancies at New Yarmouth, but will not affect any operations or employees at Appleton or Holland."